Stockton – on – Tees Back on Track welfare scheme

Awards can be provided in Stockton – on – Tees as the result of government funding that is part of the local welfare scheme. The council created a programme known as Back on Track, and it is run by partners including Five Lamps.

There are two types of grants provided for people that are eligible, and they include Crisis and also Settlement Support. Each will focus on addressing a different need, but the aim is to help people with a local connection to the Stockton borough that are threatened by an unforeseen circumstance.

Expenses paid as part of Back on Track

Bills that can be assisted with as part of crisis support are as follows. There is assistance for food, including meals or milk for babies and nappies. During the winter, fuel or electricity bills can be paid to keep heat on, and other expenses assisted with can be for clothing or travel needs. Any award is short term only, and will help with expenses for at most seven days.

When eligible, a grant is issued in the following manner. Five Lamps will offer pre-paid cards to the Love to Shop store for clothing or an Asda card for food. If someone needs help with transportation or other related bills, then awards from the welfare scheme will normally be provided as a direct payment to supplier.

What crisis support will do is serve as a form of short term help while the resident can work towards stability. For example, if someone is provided a pre-paid card for paying their heating bill, this will provide them time to work out a payment plan with their fuel provider. Or food can be given to a household for a few days, and then the family can look into long term solutions such as job training or the programmes run by a local food bank in Stockton – on – Tees. This form of aid will not solve the crisis though.

Families or individuals that are resettling or moving can also get help from Back on Track. Examples of who may be eligible include the homeless that were resettled or people moving from a hostel or other form of supported housing. This is a service for both County Durham and well as North Yorkshire and the homeless in those regions.

They may be provided with household goods, furniture, and other items that can help them settle. Another benefit of this form of support is the tenant may be provided with long term advice and guidance on maintaining their new home. In very rare or exceptional cases, welfare may help with a rent in advance or arrears if the applicant has a longer term plan in place, and if the Stockton Council’s Housing Options Team agrees to it.

While the council receives funds from the government as part of welfare transferring to local authorities, a local charity in Stockton – on – Tees known as Five Lamps will review application and provide grants and items to families that qualify. Specialists will conduct an assessment of the person seeking a grant.

Financial aid will be provided in certain situations, such as those faced with an exceptional need, which can be a disaster or a similar event. However, many other vulnerable people in Stockton – on – Tees may qualify for a grant based on Health Need, and this can include help for those that are homeless or food for an individual that is hungry. Other beneficiaries will be an individual with a physical disability or an older people, and also many lone parents or families with a children may also qualify for help based on this eligibility criteria.

For more information on the scheme or to apply, call the charity or the local council at 0300 111 0557.